For a change of pace, i'm going to blog about things to do once i'm back in singapore. off the top of my head, i can think of getting a haircut, and getting a new phone line. haircut is pretty self-explanatory, i think. need to look more presentable for interviews. unfortunately, my hair is wavy by nature and can look a little unruly if left to grow out. i was/am(?) actually quite envious of my japanese kids because they have such soft, straight hair. i'm aware it's genetics, so there isn't a permanent solution. have to make the best of what i have, and in this case, it means short hair. i will never understand what possessed me to have that long hair phase in undergrad. nor do i know how i survived it, especially in singapore's weather and while being decently active in judo!

as for the phone line, my original plan was to port my number over to eight (that's a telco). but i've since read about people having trouble porting out of it, and that's made me reconsider. retired cousin might call this my sentimentality at work again, but i really don't want to lose or even risk losing my phone number. i've had it for probably about 20 years now, and it's really easy to remember. so, the alternative is to sign up for a second number. thanks to my phone being dual-sim, it can accommodate another line no problem. i'm thinking of using an esim, just for convenience and to see how it works. i'll be able to retain my number, and even have a spare for like work contacts vs personal. best part, the bill for 2 lines will only come up to $13 per month. quite a good deal! and if the porting issues stabilize in the future, i can think of consolidating my services under my main number. back when i was a kid, i never understood why some people would opt to have 2 numbers. granted, it was also because the technological limitations back then meant having 2 phones, 1 for each line. so troublesome! now, it's so much easier.

i should elaborate a bit more on my healthy lifestyle plans. like i briefly mentioned last time, the main focus is going to be on monitoring calories and macronutrients. i'm consciously avoiding the term "counting calories" despite the catchy alliteration, because i don't want to go too crazy over it. i don't need super high precision. an error of plus minus 100-150 calories is still acceptable to me. in more concrete terms, i'm going to find out my basal metabolic rate (BMR) using the body composition scale, then adjust my intake to be BMR minus X calories. the scientific principle is simple. burning more than you eat means your body will use up the stored energy.

the main thing is to cut down on snacking and increase protein intake instead. protein supposedly helps you feel full and builds muscle, so that's a 2 in 1 benefit. going to stick to drinking water most of the time as i'm already doing, will cut down even more on sugar and carbs too. that's the diet part. for exercise, the plan is to work out 3 times a week to start, maybe increasing to 4 or a maximum of 5 over time. i think more than 5 is doing it to excess. the plan here is to push myself reasonably. paradoxical as that sounds, it means rather than trying to squeeze out reps or using too-heavy weights, i want to focus on my form. things like protecting my back while deadlifting and squatting. the last thing i want right now is an injury.

also, i want to make sure i get enough rest and recovery. this means maintaining good sleeping hours and maybe just doing light stretching and mobility stuff on non-workout days, maybe cardio if i feel fitter. need to do more research into a program to follow. i saw some success with the stronglifts program (a split program of squats, bench press, overhead press, deadlifts, and rows), but i think there's room to do more. i'm also considering signing up for a gym membership. haven't decided where exactly yet, but the NUS alumni guild house one looks tempting. and since i'm in the last year of eligibility for discounted rates, might as well right? not that signing up for something close to the end of the eligibility window has always worked out...just look at my UK visa!

4 full days and 1 day of travelling before i'm back in singapore. don't think i'll go to the museum after all; doesn't feel worth the time although admission is free. unless i can drag myself there tomorrow or saturday, then i might get a coin battery for my luggage scales at the nearby poundland. if not, i'll apply for a few more jobs while i'm here. need to make a new version of my resume for them unfortunately, so that'll take some time. i'm kind of hoping that i'll get at least interviews for the PGDE-less teaching jobs. but it does feel quite short-sighted, you know? like, i've said that teaching isn't a long-term career to me. so, what am i going to do next after teaching? won't that mean starting from the ground up again? well...i'll just have to do my best and see what the universe gives me.

-random thought of the day: Feeling excited to go home!-